Consolidation of UNECE regulations for lighting
Dozens of UNECE regulations for lighting which have been in place so far will be replaced by three new ones (UNECE No. 148, 149 and 150) aiming to harmonize and consolidate all requirements.
Not long ago, the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) published on its website, as annexes to the 1958 Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Harmonized Technical United Nations Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts, three new regulations concerning lighting. They combine requirements of the existing multiple regulations and are supposed to replace them:
- UNECE Regulation No. 148 – Light Signalling Devices (LSD) (combining the provisions of Regulations No. 4, 6, 7, 23, 38, 50, 77, 87 and 91)
- UNECE Regulation No. 149 – Road Illumination Devices (RID) (combining the provisions of Regulations No. 19, 98, 112, 113, 119 and 123)
- UNECE Regulation No. 150 – Retro-Reflective Devices (RRD) (combining the provisions of Regulations Nos. 3, 27, 69, 70 and 104)
Their objective is to increase the clarity, to consolidate and streamline the complexity of requirements in UN Regulations and to prepare for the future transition to performance based requirements, by reducing the number of UN Regulations through an editorial exercise without changing any of the detailed technical requirements already in force up to the date of entry into force of the new regulations.
A two-year transition period is currently in place in order to give manufacturers enough time to carry out the necessary adjustments, such as to prepare their production tooling for new approval markings. Until 15 November 2021, new certificates in accordance with the old UN regulations still can be issued.
